Butter-packer.



No. 7"],338. Patented Sept. 30, I902.

F. PRENTICE.

BUTTER PACKER.

(Application filed Feb. 18, 1902.]

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I,

Z/ 24- 23- /7 A? 1 @r' Y f V /.%K H 6' :El "luv Patented Sept. 30, I902.F. PRENTICE.

BUTTER PACKEB.

(Application filed Fe! 18, 1902.)

ZSbeetv-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

tl b1 tn o FREDERICK PRENTIUE, OF DEERCREEK, MINNESOTA.

BUTTER-PACKER.

sPEOIFLGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,338, datedSeptember 30, 1902.

Application filed February 18, 1902. Serial No. 94.680. (No model.)

(M6 71171.01 it may concern:

it known that FREDERICK PRENTICE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Deercreelgi n the county of Ottertail and State ofMinnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Butter-Packers,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to butter-packers; and the object of the same is toconstruct. a powerdriven device for packing butter into tubs in whichthe blows of the tamper would be independent of the amount of butter inthe tub.

The simple and novelconst ruetion employed by me in carrying out myinvention is fully described in this specification and claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, inwhich Figure 1 is a sid eelevation of my device, partially in section.Fig. 2 is a plan view of thesame. Fig. 3 isadetail of the pinion. Fig. 1is a detail of one of the retreating springactuated teeth. Fig. 5 is anend elevation of my device.

Like numerals Qfreference designate like parts in the different views ofthe drawings.

The numeral 1 designates a circular platform set horizontally andmounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 2, journaled in boxes 3 andit. Carried by the platform 1 are four outwardly cnrved resilientfingers 5, arranged to engage and hold a tub 6, in which butter is to bepacked. The fingers 5 have no positive hold on the tub (3, whichmaytherefore be easily replaced when full by an empty one. The peripheryof the platform is traversed by a groove 7, which serves to accommodatea belt 8 for rotating the platform.

The belt 8 is endless and runs over two idlers f), and up and over agrooved pulley 10, carried by a driving-shaft 11.

To pack the butter in the tub a rcciprocating pounder 12 is employed,which pounder has an enlarged head 13 and a slender stem 14. Thediameter of the head 13 is a little greater than the radius of thebottom of the tub (i. The stem 1 is set vertically and is slidinglymounted in guides 15. A link 16 is pivotally connected at one end to theupper end of the stem 14 and at the other end to the long arm 17 of alever 18, fulcrumed on a shaft 19. The short arm 20 of the said lever 18carries a circular rack 21, having teeth 22.

shaft 11, is mounted in alinement with the 3 rack 21 and is providedwith two teeth 22- located to mesh with the teeth on the rack 21. Theteeth 24 are of novel construction, as common teeth would notdo, as iseasily seen, for the position of the rack 21 varies with the height ofthe pounder 12, which varies with the amount of butter in the tub. Therefore if unyielding teeth were used on both rack 21 and pinion 23 asmash-up would result if they did not mesh. The teeth 2 1- are slidinglymounted in recesses 25, extending at an angle of about forty-fivedegrees to a radius drawn through the point where the recess 25 cuts theperiphery of the pinion 23. Each of the teeth 24: consists of a crown 21and a reduced shank 24: A spring 26 surrounds the shank 24", bears onthe head 24, and is seated in the recess 25. A slot 2 1: is formed inthe crown and is engaged by a crosspin 27, which secures the toothagainst removal from the recess 25, but at the same time givessufficient play to permit the tooth to retreat until the end of thecrown is flush with the mouth of the recess 25. There is a transverseapertu re 28 in the stem 14, through which a pin 29 can be passed tohold the pounder 12 up out of the way after the machine is stopped andthe pounder 2 raised up, when the pin will rest on the lower guide 15.

In operation an empty tub (i is placed in position and the machinery isstarted by applying power to the main shaft 11 by means of a loosepulley device or otherwise. Butter is then thrown into the tub 2,alongside of the pounder 12, when the rotation of the platform willcarry it around under the pounder which will tam p it down. When thepounder is in contact with the butter, the belt 8 will slip on theplatform 1; but when the pounder is raised the rotation of the platformwill continue. When the tub (i is full, the machine is stopped, and itis replaced by an empty one. The operation of the pinion 23 in driv ingthe rack 21 requires a word. of explanation. As the pinion 23 revolvesthe teeth 21 will be carried around to engagetlie rack 21. If the rack21 is standing in such a position that the tooth 24 will engage the endof one of the teeth 22, the tooth 2-1 will be forced back into therecess until it clears the said tooth 22,.after which it will snap outand engage the notch intervening between the said tooth 22 and the nexttooth. When the tooth 24 is engaging this notch the component of forcewill be such that the tooth will not be pushed back but will depress therack 21 until it swings far enough to clear the tooth 24. This actionwill raise the pounder l2 and then release it. The operation will berepeated by the next tooth 24. It is important to note that the arethrough which the lever 18 is swung by the pinion 23 is constant, andtherefore the pounder 12 Would be dropped through the same distance nomatter what the height of the butter in the tub is.

I do not wish to be limited as to details of construction, as these maybe modified in many particulars without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is'

1. In a butter-packer, a circular platform mounted to revolve and havinga groove in its periphery, a belt engaging said groove, means fordriving said belt, a pounder and means for reciprocating said pounder,said belt being arranged to slip while said pounder is in contact withthe butter in the tub, substantially as described. a

2. In a butter-packer, a circular platform mounted to revolve and havingagroove in its periphery, means for securing a tub to said platform, apounder mounted to be reciprocated, a lever bearing a circular rack, ashaft bearing a pinion'located to mesh with said rack, a pulley mountedon said shaft, and a belt passing around said pulley and said platform,substantially as described.

3. In a butter-packer, a circular platform mou nted to revolve andhaving a groove in its periphery, means for securing a tub to saidplatform,a slidingly-mounted pounder,means for reciprocating saidpounder, a pulley, a belt passing around said pulley and fitting thegroove in said platform, said belt being arranged to slip when saidpounder is in contact with the butter in the tub, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a butter-packer, a platform mounted to revolve, means for securinga tub to said platform, a pounder, means for reciprocating said pounder,and means fordriving said platform, which means is arranged to yieldwhen said pounder is in contact with the butter in the tub,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK PRENTIOE.

Witnesses:

FRANK G. RADELFINGER, BENNETT S. J ONES.

